These creamy peach pie bars are like a cross between peach pie and cheesecake.

The crust has a soft crumble and tastes like ashortbreadwith toasty pecans and a great crunch.

Resting and chilling these pie bars is key to a great texture.

Southern Living Creamy Peach Pie Bars sliced and ready to serve

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You don’t want to cut into the dessert too soon, or it might fall apart.

Patience is keyand will be well rewarded.

Wait to cut until the day of serving to keep them as fresh as possible.

Southern Living Creamy Peach Pie Bars ingredients

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Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

)all-purpose flour

1/2cup(4 oz.

)cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

1/4cupgranulated sugar

1/2tsp.kosher salt

Filling:

2large(5 oz.

Southern Living Creamy Peach Pie Bars lining the pan with parchment paper

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Coat an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray.

Prepare the Crust:

Place flour, butter, sugar, and salt in a food processor.

Pulse until coarse crumbs form, 6 to 7 pulses.

Southern Living Creamy Peach Pie Bars pressing the crust mixture in the pan

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Firmly press mixture into bottom of prepared pan.

Bake Crust:

Bake in preheated oven until light golden brown, about 20 minutes.

Cool completely on a wire rack, about 30 minutes.

Southern Living Creamy Peach Pie Bars crust after baking

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Make cream cheese mixture:

Whisk cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl until smooth.

Whisk in sour cream and eggs.

Evenly spread cream cheese mixture over cooled crust.

Southern Living Creamy Peach Pie Bars stirring together the peach filling

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Transfer to a wire rack, and cool completely, about 1 hour.

Refrigerate until firm, about 4 hours.

Using parchment paper overhang, lift out of pan.

Southern Living Creamy Peach Pie Bars whisking together the cream cheese filling

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Cut into bars and serve.

you could also break out your ruler for the most consistent sizing.

Southern Living Creamy Peach Pie Bars adding the cream cheese mixture to the pan

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Southern Living Creamy Peach Pie Bars adding the peaches and nuts to the filling

Credit:Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Southern Living Creamy Peach Pie Bars sliced and ready to serve

Credit:Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley